This year, strikes led by healthcare professionals calling for better pay and treatment dominated our headlines. Many in the public supported their cause, myself included, but I had heard this story before.

While at university, I shared a house with four nursing students. Forced into online learning and a city-wide lockdown, we spent countless hours together. Between all-nighters and trips to Aldi, we spoke about the reality of being students at a predominantly white university, the barriers faced on differing courses and about nothing changing unless “a white student cries”. They shared their experience of the NHS, but more importantly, they shared their experience navigating it as young black women.

Now, with the NHS in crisis, it seems especially relevant to share their stories.